Navratri festival is being celebrated with pomp and gaiety across states in India and it is nearing the conclusion. We have read about various things like food, clothes, stories, music, dance, home decor, kanya puja performed during the Navratri celebrations.
Today being Navami, we focus on the devotional rendering and chanting of slokas during the Navratri festival.
You have to spread the roli on the chowki and tie moli across and around it. Then place the idol of Goddess Durga right on the chowki. During Navratri Puja, chanting the prayers and invoke Durga Maa is considered auspicious and it is believed that Maa Durga visits and enlightens your home and blesses your family.
A lamp is lighted symbolising knowledge and household prosperity, and kept alight through the nine nights of Navaratri. The family worships the pot for nine days by offering rituals and a garland of flowers, leaves, fruits, dry fruits, etc. with a naivedya, and water is offered in order to get the seeds sprouted.
Navratra Akhand Jyoti is an oil lamp that burns continuously for 9–10 days on the festival of Navaratri in the honor of the divine Devi. A Jyoti is an essential part of puja, especially at Aarti. A Diya or Jyoti is a symbol of knowledge, purity, good luck, prosperity. In other words, it represents the absence of darkness/ignorance.
There are several mantras for Goddess Durga, but the most simple and easy mantra to remember is “Om Shree Durgaya Namah.” This mantra should be recited 108 times or until the multiple of 108. Friday is an auspicious day for this Mantra chanting.
Durga Saptasati is also recited during Navratri with the chapters divided among the nine days. These chapters of Durga Saptashati, the story of Devi's glory are also recited during Chandi Homa, performed on the 8th day (ashtami) of Navratri.
The reading should be in the following order:
· Devi Suktam.
· Devi Kavacham.
· Argala Stotram.
· Keelakam.
· Ratri Suktam.
· Devi Mahatmya.
· Kshama Prarthana.
It has 13 chapters (Paath) which includes Kavach, Argala and Keelak. People, who wants to read Durga Saptashati Paath, must keep this thing in mind that they should first start with Kavach, Argala and Keelak without which the paath is considered to be incomplete.
Durga Chalisa is recited every evening (ratri) when worshiping her nine main manifestations during Navratri because it encompasses her praise in one. The cleansing process the devotee undergoes during fasting and worship rekindles the body, mind and spirit with renewed energy.
In Tamil Nadu, the nine-day festival is divided with the first three days dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the fourth, fifth and the sixth day dedicated to Goddess Durga and the last three days dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
For Goddess Lakshmi -The Ashtalakshmi stotram is a devotional stotram dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and her eight forms. The eight stanzas of this stotram describe and praise the eight divine forms of the Goddess Lakshmi. Read it here
For Goddess Durga - The Devi Mahatmyaham is recited which chronicles the killing of the demons Shumba and Nishumba, and then the bull demon Mahishasura by Devi.
For Goddess saraswathi, the following slokas are recited on the Navami day while performing saraswathi Pooja.
Vidya Mantra
Saraswati Namasthubhyam
Varade Kamarupini
Vidhyarambam Karishyami
Siddhir Bavathume Sadha
Meaning:
Salutations to Goddess Saraswati, the one who gives boon and grants wishes
As I begin my education, shower me with the knowledge and intellect I need to attain wisdom.
Saraswati Vandana Shloka
Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala, Ya Shubhra Vastravrita
Ya Veena Varadanda Manditakara, Ya Shveta Padmasana
Ya Brahmachyuta Shankara Prabhritibihi, Devaih Sada Pujita
Sa Mam Pattu Saraswati Bhagavatee Nihshesha Jadyapaha॥1॥
Meaning:
Salutations to Goddess Saraswati, who wears a garland of white pearls; the one who is dressed in white; the one who holds a Veena in her hand; the one who holds the blessing mudra; and the one who is seated on a white lotus.
Brahma, Vishnu and Shankara hail and worship you, O Goddess Saraswati, bless me and remove all my ignorance.
Shuklam Brahmavichara Sarparamamdhyam Jagadvyapineem
Veena-Pustak-Dharinimbhayadam Jadyandhkarapaham
Haste Phastikamalikam Viddhathim Padmasane Samsthitam
Vande Tam Parameshwarim Bhagavatim Buddhipradam Shardaam II 2 II
Meaning:
Devi Saraswati, the one who is dressed in a white attire, who is the epitome of knowledge and education, the one who governs learning in the Universe,
You hold the Veena and the book, you remove the darkness by illuminating our lives with the knowledge
You hold a garland of beads that sparkle and you are seated on a lotus that represents blossoming mindfulness.
I worship you, O mother Sharada, the Goddess of wisdom.
Saraswati Mantra
Saraswati Mahabhage
Vidye Kamalalochane
Vishwaroope Vishaalaakshi
Vidyam dehi namosthuthe
Meaning:
Salutations to Goddess Saraswati, who has eyes as beautiful as lotuses,
You are the manifestation of infinite knowledge, shower me with your blessings.
Like these the slokas are chanted and recited as a prayer offering to three Goddess during Navratri and the devotees are blessed with enlightenment, prosperity and health.
